Hand luggage rules: The unlikely item you could be banned from packing in cabin baggage

Flights see holidaymakers travelling with snacks, gifts and souvenirs, but fliers need to be vigilant with what they bring on board planes. Airports have very strict regulations on items that are banned in hand luggage. Some things might seem obvious to passengers but others might come as a surprise. It’s well known that liquids over 100ml are prohibited – but what actually counts as a liquid?

One item that many people may not realise counts as a liquid is peanut butter.

A jar of the foodstuff may seem pretty solid but airports will only allow less than 100ml of it through security.

Flight comparison site Skyscanner recommends scooping peanut butter out of its jar and into a small container should you wish you pack it in your hand luggage.

One reason peanut butter can cause complications at security is because illegal substances can be smuggled in among the food.

The US Transport Security Administration (TSA) posted on their Instagram of an occasion when marijuana was “discovered concealed in a jar of peanut butter in a checked bag at San Jose.”

According to the TSA website: “TSA officers may instruct travellers to separate items from carry-on bags such as foods, powders, and any materials that can clutter bags and obstruct clear images on the X-ray machine.

“Travellers are encouraged to organise their carry-on bags and keep them uncluttered to ease the screening process and keep the lines moving.”

The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) explains the hand luggage liquids restrictions on their website.

They advise, if possible, packing liquids in hold luggage to prevent any issues.

They also include “pastes, including toothpaste; gels, including hair and shower gel; contact lens solution; any other solutions and items of similar consistency.”

The FCO adds that if you do bring liquids on board “containers must hold no more than 100ml and must be in a single, transparent, resealable plastic bag, which holds no more than a litre and measures approximately 20cm x 20cm.

“The contents must fit comfortably inside the bag so it can be sealed; the bag must not be knotted or tied at the top; you’re limited to one plastic bag per person; and you must show the bag at the airport security point.”

Furthermore: “Liquids in containers larger than 100ml generally cannot go through security even if the container is only part full.”

There are some exemptions, including liquids for essential medical purposes, special dietary requirements, baby food and baby milk.